Estimating solar array power generation

• US 10,295,579 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2016
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Akselrod, Ben Z., Di Loreto, Anthony, McDuff, Steve, Robeson, Kyle D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ishizuka, Yoshihisa
• Application Number:
  US15/070,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20160238642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/12 Sunshine duration recorders measuring intensity of sunshine G01J
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 50/00 Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

In an approach for estimating solar array power generation for an installation of a solar array, a processor determines a location of an installation of a solar array. A processor determines, over a course of a specified time interval, a path of traversal of a source of energy relative to the location of the installation of the solar array. A processor scans an area surrounding the solar array. A processor estimates, based, at least in part, on the path of traversal of the source of energy and the area surrounding the solar array, an amount of power to be generated by the solar array.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, by one or more processors, a location of a solar array attached to a mobile device, based on geolocation, time, and directional information from a first set of one or more sensors that is attached to the mobile device, wherein the first set of one or more sensors includes a global positioning system (GPS) and a compass;

causing, by one or more processors, a focal point of a second set of one sensor to follow a path of traversal of a source of energy, wherein the second set of one sensor provides distance information;

determining, by one or more processors, over a course of a specified time interval, the path of traversal of the source of energy relative to the location of the solar array, based on distance information from the second set of one sensor that is attached to the mobile device and based on geolocation, time, and directional information from a third set of one or more sensors that are attached to a stationary structure, wherein the second set of one sensor includes a rangefinder and the third set of one or more sensors includes a GPS and a compass, and wherein the specified time interval is determined by a user;

scanning, by one or more processors, an area surrounding the solar array, based on information received from the first set of one or more sensors, the second set of one sensor, and the third set of one or more sensors, wherein the first set of one or more sensors, the second set of one sensor, and the third set of one or more sensors are installed and synced to allow information to be received from a plurality of locations;

estimating, by one or more processors, based, at least in part, on the path of traversal of the source of energy and the area surrounding the solar array, an amount of power to be generated by the solar array; and

notifying, by one or more processors, the user whether the amount of power to be generated by the mobile solar array is enough to satisfy a traveling need of the user, wherein the traveling need of the user is based on a current location of the mobile device and a future desired location of the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

plotting, by one or more processors, the path of traversal of the source of energy relative to the solar array over the course of the specified time interval; and

generating, by one or more processors, a map of one or more entities in existence between the solar array and the path of traversal of the source of energy.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining, by one or more processors, based, at least in part, on the plotted path of traversal and the map of one or more entities, one or more particular time intervals in which the solar array is at least partially blocked from the source of energy.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

notifying, by one or more processors, the user of the solar array of the one or more particular time intervals in which the solar array is at least partially blocked from the source of energy.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving, by one or more processors, a map of one or more entities in existence between the solar array and the path of traversal of the source of energy over the course of the specified time interval.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying, by one or more processors, the user of the solar array of the estimate of the amount of power generated by the solar array.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a path of traversal of a source of energy comprises:

using, by one or more processors, at least one sensor to determine the path of traversal of the source of energy relative to the solar array.